Dental assistants work under dentists to do what?

• A. Prepare patients for exams, pass instruments, and prepare dental equipment
• B. Diagnose dental diseases
• C. Perform root canal therapy
• D. Design dentures

Answer: (A)

This question tests the scope of duties for dental assistants working with dentists. Dental assistants support the clinician by preparing the patient and the operatory, passing instruments during procedures, and setting up or sterilizing dental equipment. These tasks keep the workflow smooth, protect patient safety, and let the dentist focus on diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosing dental diseases requires evaluating symptoms and studies, which is the dentist's job. Performing root canal therapy is a specialized procedure done by the dentist or an endodontist. Designing dentures involves prosthodontic work and fabrication beyond the assistant's typical duties. So the best-fit answer describes the assistant's practical, supervised support tasks: preparing patients for exams, passing instruments, and preparing equipment.